Solidarity in crisis offers hope for a peaceful Balkan future 

People gathered at Macedonia Square in Skopje on March 18th to pay tribute to the victims of the Kočani nightclub fire. Photo: wikimedia.org

The Balkans has long been a region marked by rivalries, political tensions and unresolved historical disputes. Nationalist narratives, ethnic and religious intolerance, and territorial claims have often defined relations between neighbouring countries in the region. As it takes only a few loud voices to stir up intolerance among the many, nurturing good relations is more challenging in practice.

Such relations have resulted in deep-rooted distrust of others, stigma, and stereotypes which only continue to accumulate and are often fed by political rhetoric. In such circumstances, building trust and cooperation in the Balkans is a slow, difficult process. Once established, it remains fragile, easily undone by political tensions or external provocations.

However, we can identify numerous recent cases where in times of crisis, such divisions have momentarily faded away. In such moments, reason, humanity and virtue have taken precedence, showing that even countries with complicated pasts and relationships can come together when it truly matters.

The latest example of solidarity came in response to the devastating tragedy in North Macedonia, where a fire in a nightclub in the small town of Kočani claimed at least 59 lives and left hundreds more severely injured with burns, smoke inhalation, and injuries from the ensuing stampede. Most countries lack the capacity to accommodate such a large number of patients from such a disaster. North Macedonia was no exception. Neighbouring countries swiftly offered assistance, while Skopje activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, prompting a broader European response to which at least nine other countries responded.

Injured victims were transported to hospitals all across the region and wider Europe. These countries included Spain, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Lithuania, Sweden and Poland, with several other countries including Romania, Luxembourg, Norway, Finland and France stepping in with transportation support too. On the other hand, medical assistance and doctors were sent to North Macedonia from Czechia, Israel and Serbia.

Several countries united in solidarity with North Macedonia by declaring mourning days, including Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as they shared in the collective grief of the tragic loss.

From the countries in the region, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Slovenia all provided support by taking in the injured for medical treatment in their hospitals.

Serbia also assisted by receiving 30 victims for treatment, the highest number among all countries, and by providing medical resources. Students in the country paid tribute by gathering in front of the Macedonian embassy, while people also waited in lines to donate blood. These donations were raised by the Serbian Red Cross. Macedonian flags were displayed in shows of solidarity in several places across Serbia. A humanitarian football match was also scheduled to be played in Belgrade.

And while such support from Serbia may be expected due to traditionally good relations on a political level, the response from Bulgaria to most was particularly striking. This is especially true given the fact that the disaster happened during a time of deteriorating bilateral relations between North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Fourteen critically injured victims were transferred to Bulgaria for treatment in immediate efforts to save lives. In the following days, hundreds of Bulgarians donated blood for the victims in the fire tragedy and thousands of people gathered in Sofia to commemorate the victims. Many football fans across the country also showed solidarity with the victims. Additionally, in an extraordinary humanitarian gesture, a Bulgarian MP, on his own initiative with his foundation, raised over 35,000 euros in just two days for donations.

Bulgaria’s swift and generous actions stood out, especially given the challenges in the context of the relationship with North Macedonia in recent years. This has allowed solidarity to stand out when mutual relations are at a low point. Namely, North Macedonia’s EU accession talks remain stalled due to Sofia’s veto, as well as Skopje’s reluctance to adopt the constitutional changes outlined in the agreement overseen by Paris. Moreover, discussions between the two countries have been minimal, with relations remaining notably cold, and narratives often being tense on both sides.

However, the rapid mobilization in Bulgaria in response to the fire demonstrated that the bonds between the people remain strong beyond political rhetoric, defying the prevailing discourse of division and transcending political disagreements. The tragedy became an unexpected opportunity to challenge stereotypes, proving that despite the diplomatic friction, the will to help and support remains stronger. This display of compassion, when relations remain strained, is a refreshing reminder of the potential for unity in moments of crisis.

Greece was also considered a country with which North Macedonia had strained relations for decades. Despite this, 12 injured individuals were sent for treatment in Greece. A similar gathering to pay tribute was also organized in Thessaloniki.

All of these examples are just a part of the immense respect and help that has emerged in various ways in connection with this tragedy. Support on such a large scale is not only unusual for the Balkans, it would be rare among other countries too. It emphasizes the closeness and humanity of people in a region which today unfortunately remains mired in the complexities of political rhetoric and the past. From this solidarity, it is clear that the outpouring of support that transcends borders demonstrates humanity can rise above such divisions when it truly matters.

Such tragedies which are followed by humane responses raise important questions. If we can choose solidarity in times of crisis, why not choose friendship and understanding in everyday life and not be bound by the past? Can we instead build a future focused on cooperation and not conflict? This example has shown even countries with strained relations can rise above political divisions in such circumstances.

In moments of tragedy, politics fades into the background, revealing the raw and unfiltered humanity that too often goes unacknowledged in international relations. These actions speak louder than any diplomatic statement, showing even strained relationships can give way to genuine solidarity in times of need.

Similar displays of solidarity from recent years can be found between other Balkan states too, proving even amid political tensions, in times of crisis, humanity prevails. Turkey extended assistance to Greece during the devastating summer wildfires, despite their historically strained relations. Likewise, Serbia helped and donated to Albania after the catastrophic earthquake in Durres. The country also provided significant aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the severe floods. These are just a few instances of a regional pattern of hope that reinforces a powerful truth: when disaster strikes, political grievances take a backseat to compassion and mutual aid, offering a glimpse of what regional cooperation could look like beyond moments of tragedy.

Analyzing these cases brings us to an important conclusion. If solidarity is possible in moments of disaster, it should not remain elusive in everyday diplomacy. At the end of the day, we are all neighbours bound by shared history, cultural connections, and economic interdependence. Relationships between nations close to each other should not be defined by the past, but by a shared vision for the future, built on trust, collaboration, and the recognition that progress for one is progress for all.

Bojan Lazarevski is a political scientist in international and intercultural studies based in North Macedonia. He is also a policy fellow with Young Voices Europe, an activist, and a researcher.

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Balkans, disaster, North Macedonia, Solidarity